OMAHA (DTN) -- It started with a television advertisement of a mechanic lying underneath a car talking about how the use of ethanol has been a boon for his business -- one of the oil industry's first shots in its fight to repeal the Renewable Fuels Standard.

Though its response wasn't immediate, the U.S. ethanol industry launched a multi-million-dollar national television ad campaign of its own Monday.

The short spot shows a ventriloquist in a suit sitting on stage with a dummy on his right knee. Answering a question about why renewable fuels shouldn't be used, the dummy responds, "Because ...